When I was a teen, I was into reading fiction about girls with anorexia, which at that time (mid-80's) was pretty new. I even thought that I might want to become a psychologist or psychiatrist due to the empathy that was borne in me from reading about the inexplicable struggle that these young girls go through. It's been a long time since I was a teen and it seems like eating disorders are much more commonplace (in fact they only affect about 1% of teen girls--see note below**), but I still wonder if anyone reading this hasn't had a friend or a relative who has struggled through anorexia or bulimia. And now with a tween daughter of my own, I feel certain that at some point one of her friends or she herself will struggle. Is ...
Category Archives: 5 Star Reads
Mockingjay
Mockingjay. This is the one word that's been on many, many lips since the third book was announced in The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins. Forget sparkly vampires, this one is all about a dystopian world in which society as we know it has been gone for quite some time, and in its place is a controlling and abusive government called the Capitol which keeps order through horrific measures. *You can count on me to leave out any spoilers for Mockingjay, but if you haven't read the two previous installments of the trilogy, you might want to get thee to a library/bookstore/friend's bookshelf before reading further.* We first met Katniss in The Hunger Games (linked to my review), the teenager from District Twelve whose life of daily struggles changes the instant her younger ...
Jack Blank and the Imagine Nation
Miserable. If you live at an institution called a "Home for the Hopeless, Abandoned, Forgotten and Lost," odds are that your life is pretty miserable. (And when the nameplate for that institution also reads "Crushing the Spirit of Childhood Since 1898," you as a reader know that the author of the book you are reading certainly has a solid sense of humor.) Such is the case for Jack, the central character in Matt Myklusch's new middle grade novel Jack Blank and the Imagine Nation, the first of the adventurous trilogy. If my wishes are heeded, this is a series that will be well-known and much loved by readers of all ages. Sure, it's another story of an orphaned boy who isn't aware of the powers hiding within him, and yes, he goes off to an ...
Diamond Ruby
Although historical fiction is my favorite genre, I haven't read much of it lately. Really, I haven't read much fiction at all this summer (not very convenient when you are a regular contributor for a book blog). We've been busy, but I've also been reading a lot more nonfiction titles because of health issues (I do have some great titles related to nutrition to review). A few weeks ago, I was craving a good story. I picked up Diamond Ruby, and I am so glad I did. This debut novel from nonfiction writer Joseph Wallace is a fantastic read, and I highly recommend it. Diamond Ruby is based on the true story of Jackie Mitchell, a young woman ...
Every Natural Fact
Although the general public's commitment to environmentalism and "going green" may be on the rise, the quantity and quality of many of our family's interactions with the natural world are challenged by hectic schedules, lack of access, and the call of air conditioning on a hot summer's afternoon, among countless other factors. To all who value the experiences that only the outdoors can provide, rejoicing is in order for Amy Lou Jenkins' new book, Every Natural Fact: Five Seasons of Open-Air Parenting, a series of essays describing her outdoor adventures with her son in their native state of Wisconsin. But really, this book is so very much more. At the base, Jenkins has written a book honoring the beauty and wonder of nature, and her writing style conveys a respect and adoration for this world. The graceful ...
Finny: A Novel
Finny is a dramatic character-driven novel that follows Delphine “Finny" Short's life from early childhood well into adulthood. It's sort of a coming-of-age novel, not ending with young adulthood, but continuing through each phase of Finny's life. Calling it a dramatic novel doesn’t really do it justice, because it’s funny as well. It’s another of those books that had me laughing out loud making people around me look over to see what I was reading. And I wanted to tell them. In fact, I wanted to do more than that. I wanted to read them the scene that made me laugh, and how completely delightful I found this book. And I usually did. Not only did I want to talk to others around me about this book, but I found myself shouting ...
The Sky is Everywhere
One day Lennie has a sister, a prominent place in the band as a clarinet player, a best friend – she’s basically a normal 17-year-old girl. The next day her older sister Bailey dies, and it changes everything. The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson is about Lennie's journey as she is learning to cope with the unexpected and sudden loss of her sister. It leads her to make unwise choices in matters of the heart, as she struggles with her attraction to her sister’s boyfriend Toby. Complicating matters is the introduction of Joe Fontaine on the scene – the new boy, who only knows Lennie “after” – after the death of sister, not as one of two, the sisters who were as close as best friends, yet different as night and ...
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Jennifer Donovan
Managing Editor -
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